"100 Million Volt Thunder Dragon!"
Doflamingo's voice echoed like a demonic whisper from the depths of hell. Before the terrified onlookers, a vivid dragon forged of pure lightning surged forth from his hand, roaring towards the Marines. In moments, it crashed over them, engulfing them one by one.
With Nico Robin held securely in one arm, Doflamingo commanded the thunder with the other, radiating the inviolable, sacred majesty of an ancient thunder god.
"Impossible!" "How could...? I don't believe it!" "How can someone like that even exist?!"
Seeing Doflamingo unleash such a devastating technique, watching lightning instantly swallow the Marines, the residents' faces twisted in terror. Some collapsed weakly to the ground, babbling incoherently in their shock.
Doflamingo paid their reactions no mind, already deciding to depart.
"Wait, My Lord!"
Martin, who had witnessed Doflamingo's overwhelming display of power, felt a profound admiration bloom within him. This was the kind of strength he yearned for! Someone who could decide life and death as easily as breathing, utterly free to do as he pleased. The terrifying might of it sent shivers down his spine.
"What is it?" Doflamingo asked coolly.
Martin, perceptive enough to seize the moment, immediately dropped to his knees. "My Lord, I wish to follow you," he declared with sincere earnestness.
"Plenty of people want to follow me," Doflamingo countered. "What makes you qualified? A man should know his own worth—or lack thereof."
"Me?" Doflamingo's words struck Martin speechless. He knew he had little to offer—neither exceptional strength nor intellect.
"I can offer you my loyalty!" Martin insisted, his hesitation vanishing. "I will never betray you, if only you'll accept me!" He pressed his bald head firmly against the ground, not daring to meet Doflamingo's gaze.
"Loyalty?" Doflamingo scoffed. "The cheapest commodity there is. You think mere words will make me believe you?"
"Whatever my Lord commands, I will obey, even unto death!" Martin swore resolutely.
"Then you can kill yourself right now," Doflamingo stated, his voice devoid of warmth.
"This..." Martin faltered. Following such a powerful figure promised an incredible future, but he wasn't ready to throw away his life just yet.
"You hesitate." Doflamingo didn't even glance back at Martin as he turned and walked away, leaving the pirate consumed by regret amidst the terrified crowd.
And so, the farce concluded with the utter annihilation of the Marines. Doflamingo departed, carrying the unconscious Nico Robin with him.
In a hotel room within the town, a small, slightly grimy girl lay on clean white sheets. She slept soundly, more peacefully than she had in a very long time.
"Mama... don't leave me... don't..."
The sudden murmur from her dream caught Doflamingo's attention. He instantly reappeared beside the bed, ready to tend to this little hedgehog.
"Hm? Having a nightmare?" he murmured gently, stroking her hair with a soft touch. "It's alright. Everything's alright now. It's all over."
"I... Thank you. Thank you for saving me, Big Brother," Robin stammered, her voice small and timid. She finished speaking and quickly stole a glance at Doflamingo.
Her thoughts were a tangled mess. After everything she had endured, she couldn't simply trust someone blindly—she would have been sold off long ago if she had. Gratitude for Doflamingo saving her life warred with the fear that he might have malicious intentions. Caught between these conflicting emotions, Robin didn't know what else to say after her brief thanks and fell silent.
"You must be hungry," Doflamingo observed, understanding her complex state of mind and seeking to break the tension between them.
"Mm," Robin responded quietly. She still needed to observe Doflamingo, to determine if she'd placed her trust in the wrong hands. It was a heartbreaking truth of this world that children forced to suffer grew up far too quickly. No one was kind without reason; if they were, they undoubtedly wanted something.
Doflamingo picked up the food from the nearby table and handed it to her. It was still warm. The attention to detail was impeccable; the Young Master certainly knew how to look after a girl.
Gazing at the steaming food before her, Robin couldn't help her stomach rumbling. How long had it been? She couldn't even remember the last time she'd eaten something warm.
This is nice, she thought, already starting to wolf down the meal.
"Slow down," Doflamingo reminded her gently, watching her eagerness. "There's more if you're still hungry."
"Mmff... Mmm," Robin continued eating ravenously, tears beginning to stream down her face. "It's... It's just so delicious..."
Doflamingo didn't interrupt her, simply sipping his red wine nearby, his gaze resting warmly on her.
"When you're finished eating, go wash up. Then you can leave," Doflamingo stated calmly, taking his time with the words.
Hearing his gentle tone deliver such a verdict, Robin froze mid-bite. Her expression fell, and she fell silent, suddenly losing all interest in the food.
A long silence stretched between them. Doflamingo remained perfectly composed, sipping his wine without another word. Finally, it was Robin who broke the quiet.
"Can I... Can I stay with you, Big Brother?" Robin couldn't suppress the thought any longer and laid her cards on the table. She was still only eight years old. Despite everything, some part of her still wanted to believe in the world, wanted to trust this man she had only just met.
"Why? Why would you want to follow me?" Doflamingo asked, curious.
"You're... a good person," Robin said weakly.
"A good person?" Doflamingo chuckled, amused. "Good people don't tend to live long, you know. And this is the first time anyone's ever called me that. I'm a pirate, remember?"
"I believe you," Robin insisted earnestly. "No matter who you are, in my heart, you're a good person."
"Fuffuffuffuffu! Interesting," Doflamingo laughed. "Just because I saved your life?"
"Yes! Exactly! Everyone else left me to die, but you reached out to help me. Doesn't that prove everything?" Robin declared confidently, convinced she had seen through him, her eyes shining as she looked at Doflamingo.
"Let's just say I was feeling charitable," Doflamingo said self-deprecatingly. "I have a soft spot for pitiful children."
Seeing this as a tacit admission, a small smile touched Robin's lips.
"So, can I stay with you?" Robin asked again, her eyes full of hopeful anticipation.
"No," Doflamingo refused flatly.
"Why not?" Now it was Robin's turn to be surprised. She thought she had uncovered his true nature; surely such a kind person would help her?
"No reason," Doflamingo replied evenly.
"No reason? I don't believe you! I'll make you accept me!" Robin seemed to have latched onto Doflamingo, determined to follow him no matter what.
"Alright, alright. Go get cleaned up," Doflamingo cut off the conversation, urging her towards the bathroom. "You're filthy. You're making the whole room stink."
His words made Robin blush furiously, and she scrambled off the bed, hurrying towards the bathroom.
"Hey, Big Brother," she called out, poking half her head out from behind the bathroom door, looking back at Doflamingo seated leisurely with his wine. "I still don't know your name." She paused, then added worriedly, "And... you won't leave while I'm washing up, right?"
"Remember it well. My name is Doflamingo," he replied, giving the little girl a reassuring answer. "And I won't leave. Don't worry."
"Okay, good!" Robin flashed a sweet smile, giving him a playful wink.
"Heh," Doflamingo chuckled softly, his outward expression calm, but inwardly he mused, 'Is this girl getting attached a bit too quickly? Accepting me just like that? And does she really think I'm the type to sneak away? Where would my pride be then—the pride of Doflamingo, the God of Sky Island, the future hegemon of the North Blue? Still... this little girl certainly has her charms, tsk tsk.'
Soon, Robin finished washing. But she immediately faced a dilemma. She only owned the single dress she'd been wearing. If she put it back on after washing, wouldn't that defeat the purpose?
'Should I put my old clothes back on, or should I ask Big Brother to buy me some new ones?' Robin remained tangled in indecision, hesitating to leave the bathroom.
"What's wrong? Did you wash your spirit away in there?" Doflamingo called out.
"Um... Big Brother," Robin began awkwardly from inside the bathroom. After much internal debate, she decided to abandon the old dress—she wanted to feel pretty too. Although she hated to trouble Doflamingo further, figuring she already owed him so much, she finally asked, "Could you... could you possibly buy me some clothes?"
"Oh, that?" Doflamingo responded easily. "There are clothes for you on the bed. I'll step out, and you can come out and change."
Truly the thoughtful Young Master, he had already anticipated everything and made arrangements. While Robin was bathing, he had specifically gone out and bought several outfits.
"Really? Thank you, Big Brother!" Robin's face lit up with a smile. 'He really is a kind person!' she thought secretly. 'Big Brother, you won't be getting rid of me that easily!'
Creak.
Wrapped in a bath towel, Robin opened the door and peeked out. The room was empty. Reassured, she stepped towards the bed. Laid out were several sets of clothes – dresses and other proper outfits.
Robin picked up one of the dresses and began to put it on, tears welling in her eyes again. How long had it been? This tenderness was almost enough to melt her defenses completely. It was the unintentional kindness, revealed in small details, that was the most potent—especially for children like her, who had suffered so much hardship, whose lives were so precarious, forcing them to mature too soon. When someone showed them genuine kindness, they desperately wanted to repay it tenfold. Of course, the Young Master didn't display such tenderness readily to just anyone.
Dressed, Robin eagerly opened the room door, needing to see if Doflamingo was still there, terrified of being alone again.
Creak.
Her heart pounding with anticipation, Robin quickly scanned the hallway outside the door. Relief washed over her when she saw Doflamingo's figure.
Doflamingo noticed her too. "Finished changing?" he teased. "Not such a grubby little stray cat anymore, are you?"
"I wasn't one before, either," Robin muttered under her breath, her mood significantly brightened.
Their eyes met, and both of them broke into cheerful laughter.
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